HIST 1020 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Meritocracy, Metric System, Pospolite Ruszenie
Document Summary
The declaration of independence (1776)- a rhetorical and ideological. Universal human rights- life, liberty, pursuit of happiness . Slippery slope - once you begin a revolution it is hard to stop it. Chaos of revolutions often allows an individual (or group) to seize power for themselves. Local, not a peripheral revolution (different from american revolution) Public sphere and public opinion- people believe french government is not fulfilling their natural born rights. Popular sovereignty- supreme power and authority lies with the people. The estates general- hadn"t met for over 100 years, calling it would show weakness of monarch. Only way to get out of debt was to call estates general and tax the nobility. Phase two (june 1791-1799)- internal and external to france. Phase three (1799-1815)- napoleon and french empire; revolution ends in france, continues to expand outside of france. Louis xvi realizes must work with the national assembly rather than just nobility.
